I hated this trade when it happened last year because I hate the Penguins and i felt this gave them their 4th high end player. Goligowski is a good D-man, i'm not disputing that. He is a top-4 D-man. But he is a late bloomer at 26 in his second full season. Neal is 24 (i know he's not that much younger but younger nonetheless), he is 6'2'', fast, has a sniper's mentality, and will most likely be a 40-goal scorer one day. He is single-handily keeping the Penguins afloat as their top players are hurting. Dallas was going to be looking pretty damn good with Erikson, Jamie Benn, and Neal as the future of their team. IMO, Goligowski won't make the kind of impact in the NHL that Neal will. I feel Dallas really got hosed on this deal and they should feel like idiots for it.

Same can be said about Kunitz. Wish Holland would be able to make deal like that. Will never happen, though.

Sweet. This dude was brought here for one reason, to punch people in the head - every other thing that he can do, other Wings can do better. I like that we have a head-puncher. The league has other, better head-punchers, but this one is ours. Better than nothing. Good work, Kenny!

Goal scorers normally hit their prime between 26-28 if I'm not mistaken.

Defensemen hit their prime from at 30 or later.

Not sure anyone got fleeced. Pittsburgh got a scoring winger they needed and Dallas got a fine young defenseman.

This seems pretty Red Wings history based (Yzerman and Lidstrom)!!!

Stamkos, Crosby, and Ovechkin are sniping goals all over the place in their early 20's.

Defensemen are all over the map talent wise. Tyler Myers, Victor Hedmen, etc. should hit their primes sooner than 30.

I think your statement would be pretty accurate 20 years ago. But today, players are developing younger and faster. The early 20's players seem to be dominating the early 30's players. And then there's Nick Lidstrom who just crushes at any age. He will be dominating 20 year olds in his 50's more than likely.

Stamkos, Crosby, and Ovechkin are sniping goals all over the place in their early 20's.

Defensemen are all over the map talent wise. Tyler Myers, Victor Hedmen, etc. should hit their primes sooner than 30.

I think your statement would be pretty accurate 20 years ago. But today, players are developing younger and faster. The early 20's players seem to be dominating the early 30's players. And then there's Nick Lidstrom who just crushes at any age. He will be dominating 20 year olds in his 50's more than likely.

How awesome would this be to see, almost another full decade of #5. He's in good health injury-wise and really fit, so if anyone is set to take Chelios' crown as the league dinosaur it would be him.

Stamkos, Crosby, and Ovechkin are sniping goals all over the place in their early 20's.

Defensemen are all over the map talent wise. Tyler Myers, Victor Hedmen, etc. should hit their primes sooner than 30.

I think your statement would be pretty accurate 20 years ago. But today, players are developing younger and faster. The early 20's players seem to be dominating the early 30's players. And then there's Nick Lidstrom who just crushes at any age. He will be dominating 20 year olds in his 50's more than likely.

Lidstrom is an anomaly, as are Stamkos, Crosby, and Ovechkin.

Neal hasn't even hit 30 goals yet. Both players are up and coming and will help their teams in the long run. That was my entire point.

James Neal is he "real deal" I was sad to see him traded and especially to Pittsburgh. The guy can put the puck in the net, has good size and is physical and not afraid to drop mitts. I'm a Wings and watch all of their games on CI bit since I live in the Dallas Area I watch the Stars and JN was fun to watch...so is Jamie Benn

It was obvious form the start the trade was better for the penguins, the reason why the stars made it was because of benn who has been good but injured htis season.Neal right now is also a product of his linemates.

Edited by jollymania, 21 March 2012 - 09:58 AM.

"I assure you the hits along the boards he(Aaron Downey) constantly threw SEVERAL TIMES EVERY SHIFT were far more damaging hits that what Kronwall throws."- uk_redwingHockeyArchiveTwitter

Keep in mind, Dallas has had ownership and financial inssues for the past few seasons. It's not completely out of the realm of possibility that they traded Neal simply because they knew they couldn't offer him a contract anywhere close to what he got with PIT this season. Might as well have received something for him.